Spectrometer incorporating signal matched filtering

Abstract

An optical system for performing a spectral analysis of test samples is provided. The optical system comprises a photonic energy source, an optical emission processing system, a received light optical processing system, an optical detector and a digital signal processing system. The optical emission processing system transmits one or more illumination wavelengths to a test sample. The received light optical processing system collects and isolates one or more wavelengths received from the test sample and transmits them to an optical detector. The optical detector converts the isolated one or more wavelengths of received electromagnetic radiation into an electrical signal which is transmitted to the digital signal processing system. The digital signal processing system performs matched filtering of the electrical signal received from the optical detector and additionally controls the functionality of the photonic energy source, the optical emission processing system and the received light optical processing system.

1. A system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample comprising:
 a) a photonic energy source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, wherein said photonic energy source is controlled by a digital signal processing means; 
 b) an optical emission processing means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the photonic energy source and transmitting one or more illumination wavelengths to a test sample, wherein the optical emission processing means is controlled by the digital signal processing means; 
 c) a received light optical processing means for collecting and isolating one or more wavelengths of received electromagnetic radiation from the test sample and transmitting the isolated one or more wavelengths of received electromagnetic radiation to an optical detector, wherein said received light optical processing means is controlled by the digital signal processing means; 
 d) an optical detector for sensing and converting the isolated one or more wavelengths of received electromagnetic radiation into an electrical signal; and 
 e) digital signal processing means for performing matched filtering of the electrical signal received from the optical detector and for controlling the functionality of the photonic energy source, the optical emission processing means and the received light optical processing means, said digital signal processing means encoding the electromagnetic radiation prior to illumination of the test sample and said match filtering being performed by a filter correlated with the encoded electromagnetic radiation. 
 
   
   
     2. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein the encoding is performed using a modulation technique selected from the group comprising pulse amplitude modulation, pulse frequency modulation, pulse width modulation, binary phase shift keying or a function generator. 
   
   
     3. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processing means is a stand-alone system. 
   
   
     4. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processing means is a circuit board which is integrated into a computing system. 
   
   
     5. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 3 , wherein the digital signal processing means is capable of interconnection with a communication network, said communication network being selected from the group comprising local area network, wide area network, wireless network, the Internet or ethernet. 
   
   
     6. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein the photonic energy source is selected from the group comprising a laser, a laser diode, a light emitting diode, an arc flashlamp or a continuous wave bulb. 
   
   
     7. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein optical emission processing means and the received light optical processing means include one or more optical devices selected from the group comprising condensers, focusing devices, lenses, fibre optics; apertures and monochromators. 
   
   
     8. The system for performing an optical analysis of a test sample according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical detector is selected from the group comprising a gallium-arsenide photodiode, a cadmium sulfide photodiode or a silicon avalanche diode. 
   
   
     9. A system for performing an optical analysis of a fluid comprising:
 a) an optical probe including an illumination system including a photonic energy source for emitting electromagnetic radiation and optical devices for directing said electromagnetic radiation towards a fluid sample, said optical probe further including detector optics for collecting and directing electromagnetic radiation emitted by the fluid sample towards a photodetector, wherein said optical probe is inserted into a fluid flow or a sample chamber containing the fluid sample; 
 b) a control means for activating the photonic energy source; 
 c) a photodetector for sensing and converting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the fluid sample into an electrical signal; and 
 d) a digital signal processing means for performing matched filtering of the electrical signal received from the photodetector, said digital signal processing means further controlling the activation of the photonic energy source, said digital signal processing means encoding the electromagnetic radiation prior to illumination of the fluid sample and said match filtering being performed by a filter correlated with the encoded electromagnetic radiation. 
 
   
   
     10. The system for performing an optical analysis of a fluid according to  claim 9 , wherein the encoding is performed using a modulation technique selected from the group comprising pulse amplitude modulation, pulse frequency modulation, pulse width modulation, binary phase shift keying or a function generator. 
   
   
     11. The system for performing an optical analysis of a fluid according to  claim 9 , wherein the digital signal processing means is a stand-alone system. 
   
   
     12. The system for performing an optical analysis of a fluid according to  claim 9 , wherein the digital signal processing means is a circuit board which is integrated into a computing system. 
   
   
     13. The system for performing an optical analysis of a fluid according to  claim 9 , wherein the digital signal processing means is capable of interconnection with a communication network, said communication network being selected from the group comprising a local area network, wide area network, wireless network, an ethernet or the Internet.